Summary
Strategic Alliances Manager at First Book leads partnership development and retention to expand educational access for children in need. The role involves managing partner relationships, executing partnership campaigns, and delivering data-driven insights to support organizational growth.
Key Responsibilities: Maintain partner retention goals, lead partnership campaigns and initiatives within budget and timelines, and ensure accurate Salesforce record-keeping with weekly pipeline updates. Develop partner impact reports, coordinate cross-functional deliverables, and conduct monthly reviews of partner business developments with renewal and expansion recommendations.
Skills & Tools: Strong project management capability with ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, proficiency in CRM systems like Salesforce, and strong analytical skills to inform data-driven reporting. Excellent written and verbal communication, collaboration with internal stakeholders, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, marketing, communications, public relations, social impact, or related field required. 3+ years experience in corporate partnerships, strategic alliances, account management, or cause-marketing with demonstrated ability to manage partnership campaigns and maintain accurate CRM records.
Location: Washington, District of Columbia (Hybrid - mandatory in-office Tuesdays and Wednesdays, must reside within commuting distance of DC)
Job Description
WORK LOCATION AND IN-OFFICE REQUIREMENTS
- This position is NOT This is a HYBRID position with MANDATORY in-office attendance on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Candidates MUST reside within commuting distance of Washington, DC AND be able to attend all required in-office days. This requirement is a condition of employment.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
To perform this job successfully, the individual must satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The responsibilities listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Maintain established partner retention goals and identify a defined number of qualified expansion opportunities per quarter.
- Lead partnership campaigns and initiatives, delivering projects on time, within budget, and in alignment with documented scopes and cross‑functional timelines.
- Maintain accurate Salesforce records by entering partner activities within required timeframes (generally within 48 hours) and completing weekly pipeline updates.
- Develop and submit data‑driven partner impact reports by required deadlines, ensuring accuracy and use of standardized reporting templates.
- Coordinate cross‑functional deliverables according to agreed timelines and ensure internal stakeholders receive required materials or updates within established service levels.
- Produce quarterly summaries highlighting philanthropic, CSR, and cause‑marketing trends and identify potential impacts or opportunities for the partner portfolio.
- Conduct monthly reviews of partner business developments and document recommendations for renewals, expansions, or engagement adjustments.
- Supports departmental needs through additional assignments
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:
- Commitment to First Book’s mission of expanding educational access for children in need
- Demonstrated ability to manage and retain partner or client relationships and identify opportunities for growth
- Strong project management capability, with the ability to lead initiatives across cross‑functional teams and meet defined timelines
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and operate effectively in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment
- Experience using CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) with accuracy and timeliness
- Strong analytical skills, with experience using data to inform reporting, recommendations, and decision‑making
- Ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and manage competing priorities in a matrixed environment
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in business administration, nonprofit management, marketing, communications, public relations, social impact, or a related field required.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Experience in corporate partnerships, strategic alliances, account management, fundraising, or cause‑marketing environments
- Experience managing partnership campaigns or initiatives, including timelines, budgets, and deliverables
- Experience maintaining accurate records and pipeline reporting in Salesforce or a comparable CRM
- Experience developing partner reports, summaries, or presentations using standardized templates and data
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including partner‑facing correspondence
- Strong project management and organizational skills, with attention to detail
- Ability to coordinate cross‑functionally to support partnership execution
- Familiarity with philanthropic, CSR, or cause‑marketing trends
WHAT FIRST BOOK OFFERS: BENEFITS AND TOTAL REWARDS:
- All full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:
- Eligibility for medical and dental insurance coverage, in accordance with plan terms.
- Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, subject to plan provisions.
- Paid vacation leave, accrued in accordance with organizational policy.
- Paid sick leave, provided in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
- Up to twelve (12) paid holidays annually, subject to organizational schedule and business needs.
- Eligibility to participate in the organization’s 401(k) retirement plan, including employer matching contributions, in accordance with plan documents.
- Eligibility for an employer-provided parking stipend, subject to program guidelines and business needs.
TO APPLY:
Application Instructions
- Candidates are invited to submit a resume and a cover letter that details their interest in the position to https://firstbook.bamboohr.com/careers.
- Only applications submitted through First Book’s approved application platforms will be considered.
- Applications submitted through external or unapproved sites, including Idealist, will not be reviewed.
- First Book does not accept unsolicited recruiter submissions and does not pay fees for resumes submitted outside of a formal written agreement.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
- First Book is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, District of Columbia, or local law.
ADA / REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT
- First Book is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law.
- Applicants requiring accommodations during the application or interview process should contact Tasha McNeill at tmcneill@firstbook.org.
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Location and Work Presence Requirement
- This position requires the ability to maintain a regular in-office presence at First Book’s Washington, DC office to support collaboration with internal teams and participation in partnership-related activities.
- The role is structured as a hybrid position with required in-office days. Reasonable accommodation will be considered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Relocation Assistance
- Relocation assistance is not provided for this position. Candidates must be able to meet the role’s in-office presence requirements independently.
Compensation Transparency
- In compliance with the District of Columbia Wage Transparency Act, First Book will provide the pay range for this position to applicants upon request or as part of the job posting.
See what First Book has been up to!:
https://www.facebook.com/FirstBook
https://www.youtube.com/user/firstbook
https://www.instagram.com/firstbookorg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-book/